HUNDREDS of public sector workers in Harrow and Brent staged a one-day "enough is enough" walkout as part of a nationwide strike over pensions.

All but two of Harrow's academies and secondary schools and a large number of its primary schools were closed as teachers joined a mass rally in central London while Harrow Council and Brent Council employees similarly took part in the industrial action, meaning for the former bins were not collected, special needs transport was cancelled and the local tip was shut.

Approximately 70 UNISON members went on strike at Northwick Park Hospital and Central Middlesex Hospitals with management reporting everything ran as normal except for reduced physiotherapy and radiology departments and laboratory services for GPs.

The majority of lecturers at Harrow College withdrew their labour although some day-time classes were running and college management were quick to confirm that the adult evening classes at its Harrow Weald Campus would run as normal.

University and College Union branch chairman Steve Hayward, who led a picket line outside the college's Harrow on the Hill Campus in Lowlands Road, Harrow, said: "It's part of a national day of action for the public sector pensions dispute.

"The government wants to raise our contributions by 50 per cent, defer the retirement age and give us less pensions.

"It's 'Pay more, work longer, get less' and our members are very angry and feel betrayed."

Harrow Council's UNISON members staged a mock funeral procession complete with a coffin and the Grim Reaper outside Harrow Civic Centre in Station Road, Harrow, to symbolise "the death of the public sector pension".

Darren Butterfield, assistant branch secretary, said: "The decision to strike by our members was not one that was taken lightly. They go to work day in, day out, to make Harrow a better place to live and work.

"They do not want to inconvenience residents but the government have left them with little choice. They work in a climate of a three year pay freeze, redundancies and detrimental changes to their terms and conditions.

"And now the Government are attacking their pensions, dignity and security in retirement. We say enough is enough."

Union colleague Peter Nzwekwe, branch secretary for North West London Hospitals UNISON branch, said: "According to the chancellor and the business secretary, WE have to go back to the negotiating table but this is a wake-up call for them.

"If the Government is not going to change their minds, we're going to be balloting members for industrial action again."

Councillor Bill Stephenson (Labour), leader of Harrow Council, said: Our absolute priority today is maintaining services for those residents who need our help most. After discussions with the trade unions, essential services like meals on wheels are not affected by todays action.

Some frontline services like waste and recycling collections have been suspended today and we will be working as hard as possible to clear the backlog.

While we regret strike action, we are also very aware of the genuine concerns of our staff concerning their pensions."